Monday, January 31, 2011
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
On Friday, I had an appointment with my medical oncologist. I hadn’t seen here since June (before my surgery and radiation). Before you enter the exam room, the nurse always weighs you. I stepped on the scale and the nurse looked at me and said, ‘You lost some weight’. They are always concerned about this because they think you have lost your appetite, which could mean a problem. I replied that losing weight happens when you have parts surgically removed. She kind of snickered and said, but you lost more weight than that! I told here I didn’t know why, but no more weight was disappearing now—too bad:-(. Then nurse then asked how the Tamoxifin was going. I let her know that I didn’t like the reactions I had to it…moodiness, and hot flashes. The nurse left and the doctor entered. She is pleased with my progress. I still wanted to know if the cancer that was there, was gone now. When I asked here, she looked at the pathology report, and said yes, as far as she could read in the report, it was. I was so pleased to hear this. Praise be to God! I still don’t know why my surgeon couldn’t tell me this in October. I will continue with the Tamoxifin for a total of five years, and then she will prescribe another hormone treatment for another five years. This hormone therapy is given to try to prevent the cancer from returning.
Other than that, I feel well, but am still experiencing some fatigue. My oncologist said that could be partly from the hormone therapy that I am on. I guess I just have to take it one day at a time.
Oh, yes, my hair is growing back. It’s still quite short, but on Christmas Day, I had enough of the bandannas, and went without. Some people couldn’t believe how much hair I was hiding under them! I didn’t think I was hiding that much! It was easy to know when to start wearing the bandanna…but more difficult to decide when to stop wearing them! But, so far, I’m not blonde any more! My hair came back brown. People ask me which I prefer, and I prefer the blonde, I think because I was blonde all my life, but I can live with brown as well. Either way, it doesn’t really matter.
Regarding my foot, I still don’t know if it is actually healed. The orthopedic surgeon didn’t want to see me until at least February. He told my G.P. to treat the symptoms, not the cause…which means as long as it doesn’t bother me, I can go without the cast. I can still feel it occasionally, but the pain isn’t bad enough for me to where the cast. I watch how I walk…especially outside on uneven, icy surfaces. I guess one day I will have to go back to my G.P. and ask to have it x-rayed again.
Thanks again for everyone’s support during this journey!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Today I had a follow up visit with my surgeon. He was pleased with how my scar has healed and he was also pleased with the amount of movement I have in my right arm, and with the fact that it isn’t swollen. It can still swell in the coming years, but so far, so good. I asked him if he had removed all the cancer, but he didn’t want to tell me that he did. He went on to explain that one of the margins was fragmented, but he believed it was a false margin. He also explained that breast cancer can show up in other parts of the body. What this all means, from what I understand, is that my treatments are complete for now (besides the Tamoxifin I am on for the next five years), but that doesn’t mean they are over. Of course, we were always aware that the cancer could come back, but after his explanation, I’m not sure if it’s even taken care of for now. We take our comfort in the fact that ultimately, everything is in God’s hands.
The plan is that in April, I will have another mammogram done at the Cross Cancer Institute, and then I will see my surgeon again when he has the results of my mammogram.
I phoned my medical oncologists office the other day to arrange an appointment with her. Originally she had said she wanted to see me three months after I was finished with my radiation oncologist, but she had thought my radiation oncologist would see me for the last time three months after my radiation was completed, not six months. She didn’t want me to wait the six months for another appointment, so I have to see her on January 28th.
That’s all for now…have a great evening!
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Today I had a follow up visit with my surgeon. He was pleased with how my scar has healed and he was also pleased with the amount of movement I have in my right arm, and with the fact that it isn’t swollen. It can still swell in the coming years, but so far, so good. I asked him if he had removed all the cancer, but he didn’t want to tell me that he did. He went on to explain that one of the margins was fragmented, but he believed it was a false margin. He also explained that breast cancer can show up in other parts of the body. What this all means, from what I understand, is that my treatments are complete for now (besides the Tamoxifin I am on for the next five years), but that doesn’t mean they are over. Of course, we were always aware that the cancer could come back, but after his explanation, I’m not sure if it’s even taken care of for now. We take our comfort in the fact that ultimately, everything is in God’s hands.
The plan is that in April, I will have another mammogram done at the Cross Cancer Institute, and then I will see my surgeon again when he has the results of my mammogram.
I phoned my medical oncologists office the other day to arrange an appointment with her. Originally she had said she wanted to see me three months after I was finished with my radiation oncologist, but she had thought my radiation oncologist would see me for the last time three months after my radiation was completed, not six months. She didn’t want me to wait the six months for another appointment, so I have to see her on January 28th.
That’s all for now…have a great evening!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23b
Yahoo! My treatments are complete! It’s been a long road and even though I am finished with my treatments this journey isn’t over yet. My body needs time to heal from all the abuse it’s had to put up with in the last year, and my energy levels need to increase back to what they were. This will all take time.
I am somewhat burnt now, and it can get worse for the next 10 days or so. I have some areas that are starting to peel as well. I was told to take ibuprofen for the pain and that does help somewhat, but I feel like I am living on it right now. Also, because the area that was radiated is much warmer than the rest of my body, my body doesn’t know how to regulate its temperature. One moment I am shivering, and the next I am sweating.
I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon on the 28th of this month, and a follow up appointment at the Cross Cancer Institute in April of next year. They will also schedule me for a mammogram that day.
Praise be to God for caring for me throughout this journey. And thanks to everyone for all the support given. Your prayers have been and will continue to be greatly appreciated!
“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23b
Yahoo! My treatments are complete! It’s been a long road and even though I am finished with my treatments this journey isn’t over yet. My body needs time to heal from all the abuse it’s had to put up with in the last year, and my energy levels need to increase back to what they were. This will all take time.
I am somewhat burnt now, and it can get worse for the next 10 days or so. I have some areas that are starting to peel as well. I was told to take ibuprofen for the pain and that does help somewhat, but I feel like I am living on it right now. Also, because the area that was radiated is much warmer than the rest of my body, my body doesn’t know how to regulate its temperature. One moment I am shivering, and the next I am sweating.
I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon on the 28th of this month, and a follow up appointment at the Cross Cancer Institute in April of next year. They will also schedule me for a mammogram that day.
Praise be to God for caring for me throughout this journey. And thanks to everyone for all the support given. Your prayers have been and will continue to be greatly appreciated!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:29
Yesterday they started what they call a “scar boost”. For this they had to line me up to their radiation machine and put a bunch of attachments on the machine. I was on their table for about a half an hour yesterday. Today was much shorter…only about fifteen minutes. I need five of these treatments, so that will take me to the end of the week. I’m getting closer to the end!
Regarding my foot, not walking on it has not helped at all, so I’m back in my aircast. I am waiting for a call from an orthopedic surgeon now, to see what he says about it. My G.P. thinks I may need a pin put in. We’ll see!
That’s all for now!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:29
Yesterday they started what they call a “scar boost”. For this they had to line me up to their radiation machine and put a bunch of attachments on the machine. I was on their table for about a half an hour yesterday. Today was much shorter…only about fifteen minutes. I need five of these treatments, so that will take me to the end of the week. I’m getting closer to the end!
Regarding my foot, not walking on it has not helped at all, so I’m back in my aircast. I am waiting for a call from an orthopedic surgeon now, to see what he says about it. My G.P. thinks I may need a pin put in. We’ll see!
That’s all for now!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm is over us, His ear open to our prayer—His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” John Newton
I am now over halfway through the radiation. Things are going well, so far. In talking with my radiation oncologist, she has informed me that there will be about two weeks where I will really hate her because I will experience pain. I have experienced some pain already, but only minimal. My skin is getting dark in some places, and red in other places.
My radiation oncologist was on holidays when my radiation plan was figured out. She had another radiation oncologist work on the plan, but when she returned, after looking at my file again, she has decided to add three extra treatments. At one point there was a lymph node in my neck that they were questioning. She told me that they don’t see it on the scan anymore, but because she knows that it hasn’t been removed by the surgery she has a feeling we should do a few more treatments in this area. She said that she doesn’t know if it will make a difference or not, but she just has a gut feeling, so I will be scheduled for three more treatments.
The trips to Edmonton everyday are tiring, and everyday that I return home safely I am thankful to God for his protection on the road.
Getting from my truck to the treatment area is not easy when you’re on crutches either….oh, I don’t think I put anything about my fractured foot on here before. Well, in June, I fractured my fifth metatarsal. I was put in an air cast, which I could walk on. Actually it was very comfortable. I had it x-rayed again four weeks later, but it wasn’t healed, so I was told to keep using the air cast. Then another two weeks later I had it x-rayed again…still not healed, keep using the air cast. On the 7th of September, I went to see the doctor about my foot again, but in the previous month, it hadn’t healed at all. He put a fiberglass cast on it and told me not to put any weight on it. I have to have it checked again this week; hopefully it is healing now because getting around on crutches is not easy. The doctors figure it isn’t healing because they keep bringing my immunity down…first with chemo, then surgery, and now radiation. We shall see what the x-ray shows this week.
Wishing everyone a blessed Sunday!
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm is over us, His ear open to our prayer—His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” John Newton
I am now over halfway through the radiation. Things are going well, so far. In talking with my radiation oncologist, she has informed me that there will be about two weeks where I will really hate her because I will experience pain. I have experienced some pain already, but only minimal. My skin is getting dark in some places, and red in other places.
My radiation oncologist was on holidays when my radiation plan was figured out. She had another radiation oncologist work on the plan, but when she returned, after looking at my file again, she has decided to add three extra treatments. At one point there was a lymph node in my neck that they were questioning. She told me that they don’t see it on the scan anymore, but because she knows that it hasn’t been removed by the surgery she has a feeling we should do a few more treatments in this area. She said that she doesn’t know if it will make a difference or not, but she just has a gut feeling, so I will be scheduled for three more treatments.
The trips to Edmonton everyday are tiring, and everyday that I return home safely I am thankful to God for his protection on the road.
Getting from my truck to the treatment area is not easy when you’re on crutches either….oh, I don’t think I put anything about my fractured foot on here before. Well, in June, I fractured my fifth metatarsal. I was put in an air cast, which I could walk on. Actually it was very comfortable. I had it x-rayed again four weeks later, but it wasn’t healed, so I was told to keep using the air cast. Then another two weeks later I had it x-rayed again…still not healed, keep using the air cast. On the 7th of September, I went to see the doctor about my foot again, but in the previous month, it hadn’t healed at all. He put a fiberglass cast on it and told me not to put any weight on it. I have to have it checked again this week; hopefully it is healing now because getting around on crutches is not easy. The doctors figure it isn’t healing because they keep bringing my immunity down…first with chemo, then surgery, and now radiation. We shall see what the x-ray shows this week.
Wishing everyone a blessed Sunday!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” Psalm 67:19-20
Wishing everyone a restful and up-building Sunday!
On Thursday morning I went to see the surgeon. He looked at my incision, and said that it looked good. He didn’t see any reason why they couldn’t start the radiation. My next appointment was with the Radiation Oncologist. He also looked at the incision, and decided that the radiation could start.
My third appointment for this day was for my treatment. I thought they had actually done a treatment, but found out on Friday, that they had just taken x-rays with the radiation machine. I was on the table for about 35 minutes where I was not supposed to move. My arms were above my head. By the time they were done with this my right arm was totally numb.
When I arrived on Friday for my treatment, the technician told me right away that she wasn’t sure if I would receive a treatment that day. The previous day, one of the x-rays hadn’t lined up the way it was supposed to on the radiation plan. They set me up for that x-ray, and then had about five people come in and look at how it lined up. Thy also called the Radiation Oncologist in to have a look. I seemed to line up fine on Friday. The Radiation Oncologist figured that I didn’t line up the previous day because it was one of the last x-ray they took and I was probably tensed up by then. Everyone left the room and my treatment started. About 15 minutes later, my first treatment was complete…24 more to go!
That's all for now!
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” Psalm 67:19-20
Wishing everyone a restful and up-building Sunday!
On Thursday morning I went to see the surgeon. He looked at my incision, and said that it looked good. He didn’t see any reason why they couldn’t start the radiation. My next appointment was with the Radiation Oncologist. He also looked at the incision, and decided that the radiation could start.
My third appointment for this day was for my treatment. I thought they had actually done a treatment, but found out on Friday, that they had just taken x-rays with the radiation machine. I was on the table for about 35 minutes where I was not supposed to move. My arms were above my head. By the time they were done with this my right arm was totally numb.
When I arrived on Friday for my treatment, the technician told me right away that she wasn’t sure if I would receive a treatment that day. The previous day, one of the x-rays hadn’t lined up the way it was supposed to on the radiation plan. They set me up for that x-ray, and then had about five people come in and look at how it lined up. Thy also called the Radiation Oncologist in to have a look. I seemed to line up fine on Friday. The Radiation Oncologist figured that I didn’t line up the previous day because it was one of the last x-ray they took and I was probably tensed up by then. Everyone left the room and my treatment started. About 15 minutes later, my first treatment was complete…24 more to go!
That's all for now!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday. August 19, 2010
“I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” Psalm 63:4 & 5
Whoa! I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last update.
Since my surgery, I have experienced some pain. When I last updated my blog, the pain wasn’t that bad because my nerves were damaged by the surgery. I now have some feeling back, but I still have numb places too.
Today I had a consult with a Radiation Oncologist, and was scheduled to receive my first radiation treatment. I also had to attend a radiation teaching session.
The Radiation Oncologist told me what the pathology report said. From what I understood, the breast still had cancer cells in it, but the largest cell they could find was 2 mm. I had 18 lymph nodes removed from under my arm as well. Four of the lymph nodes were clear of cancer cells. The other 14 had cancer cells that the chemo killed. Praise God for His healing power!
I didn’t have my first radiation treatment today because I have developed an infection that re-opened part of my incision. The oncologist said that if he started the treatments today, the incision wouldn’t close, so my radiation has been delayed for a week. I am scheduled to go back on the 26th and he will check the incision and decide if I can start radiation then.
I have to go and see my surgeon for a follow-up tomorrow morning.
That’s all I have for now.
“I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” Psalm 63:4 & 5
Whoa! I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last update.
Since my surgery, I have experienced some pain. When I last updated my blog, the pain wasn’t that bad because my nerves were damaged by the surgery. I now have some feeling back, but I still have numb places too.
Today I had a consult with a Radiation Oncologist, and was scheduled to receive my first radiation treatment. I also had to attend a radiation teaching session.
The Radiation Oncologist told me what the pathology report said. From what I understood, the breast still had cancer cells in it, but the largest cell they could find was 2 mm. I had 18 lymph nodes removed from under my arm as well. Four of the lymph nodes were clear of cancer cells. The other 14 had cancer cells that the chemo killed. Praise God for His healing power!
I didn’t have my first radiation treatment today because I have developed an infection that re-opened part of my incision. The oncologist said that if he started the treatments today, the incision wouldn’t close, so my radiation has been delayed for a week. I am scheduled to go back on the 26th and he will check the incision and decide if I can start radiation then.
I have to go and see my surgeon for a follow-up tomorrow morning.
That’s all I have for now.
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